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Electronic Records

Introduction

Photograph by Steve Puglia

NARA's Electronic Records custodial program accessions, preserves, and provides access to U.S. Federal Government electronic ("born-digital") records of permanent value. By these activities, NARA enables researchers to gain access to federal records created for use with computer applications.

The holdings are as diverse as the activities and interests of the Federal Government. The records range from data files (databases) to electronic telegrams and email to reports in PDF format to geospatial records to websites. Most of the records date since the 1960s, with some dating as early as World War II. Some of the subject areas represented in the records include agriculture, economic and financial statistics, demographics, labor, education, health and social services, attitudinal data, international issues, military, and the environment. The holdings number more than 800 series containing well over 750 million unique files.